Business Details
Premier Performing Arts Education in Fredericksburg, VA
Umbiance Center for the Performing Arts is a premier institution dedicated to cultivating community through the arts. Founded with a mission to inspire the next generation of artists, we provide pre-professional training in dance, theater, vocal, and piano disciplines while emphasizing self-confidence, discipline, and community service. Our faculty includes industry professionals with extensive performance and teaching experience, including alumni of prestigious programs like Debbie Allens Dance Academy and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. We prioritize accessibility through outreach initiatives like the LEAP program, which offers free or reduced-cost arts education to underprivileged and special needs students. Our curriculum integrates technical training with character development, preparing students for careers in the arts while fostering empathy and social responsibility.With a focus on inclusivity, we celebrate diversity in race, background, and ability, ensuring every student feels valued. Annual performances and charity events reinforce our commitment to community engagement. Recognized with the 2019 Best of Fredericksburg Award, we continue to innovate through partnerships with local schools and professional organizations. Our graduates have secured opportunities in Broadway productions, national tours, and prestigious arts institutions. By blending rigorous training with holistic growth, we empower students to become confident, compassionate artists ready to impact the world.
Services
Dance Classes
Theater Workshops
Piano Lessons
Summer Intensives
Community Outreach Programs
Highlights and features
- Our faculty includes professionals trained by Debbie Allen, Alvin Ailey, and Broadway Dance Center.
- We offer inclusive programs for special needs and underprivileged students through the LEAP initiative.
- Students gain career opportunities via connections to professional productions and prestigious arts schools.
- Recognized as the 2019 Best of Fredericksburg for dance education excellence.
- Curriculum combines technical mastery with character development and community service.
What people say
Amazing staff
Dancers learn important characteristics
Fun and educational environment
Community-focused performances
Experienced instructors
Services
Dance Classes
We offer comprehensive dance instruction in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and African styles for ages 3 to 21. Our pre-professional programs emphasize technical mastery while fostering creativity and discipline. Students perform in annual recitals and community events, gaining stage experience and confidence.
Theater Workshops
Our theater programs develop performance skills through scene study, musical theater, and improvisation. Students collaborate on productions like 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Wiz,' learning teamwork and expressive storytelling under professional direction.
Piano Lessons
Private and group piano lessons focus on technique, music theory, and performance. Instructors tailor curricula to students' goals, from classical repertoire to contemporary styles, with recital opportunities to showcase progress.
LEAP Outreach
The LEAP initiative provides free/low-cost arts education to underserved populations. Services include adaptive dance classes for special needs students, mentorship programs, and scholarship-funded training partnerships with local schools.
Summer Intensives
Annual summer programs offer immersive training in dance and theater. Participants receive masterclasses from industry professionals, rehearse full-scale productions, and engage in community service projects to apply artistic skills meaningfully.
People
Aubrey Kennedy
Owner/CEO
Aubrey Kennedy, a professional dancer and graduate of the American Musical Dramatic Academy, founded UCPA to combine her passion for performance with community empowerment. With training from Debbie Allen and experience performing at The Kennedy Center, she directs UCPA's artistic vision while advocating for social justice.
Khalia Harris
Founding Director
Khalia Harris, a former Alvin Ailey dancer, brings 15+ years of professional experience to UCPA. As founding director, she choreographs award-winning productions and mentors students, emphasizing discipline and artistic excellence through programs like 'Dancing in the Wings.'
Ivy Dozier
Program Director
Ivy Dozier, a Virginia State University graduate, leads UCPA's program development. With expertise in hip-hop and contemporary dance, she creates inclusive curricula that blend technical training with character development, drawing from her experience with Sankofa Dance Theatre.
Demetia Hopkins
Faculty Member
Demetia Hopkins, a former Alvin Ailey dancer and Broadway performer, teaches advanced ballet and contemporary classes. Her instruction emphasizes precision and artistry, informed by her Tony Award-winning work in 'Oklahoma!' and collaborations with renowned choreographers.
Victoria Edwards
Faculty Member
Victoria Edwards, a 13-year Nutcracker veteran, instructs ballet and pointe classes. Her teaching philosophy focuses on classical technique and performance readiness, drawing from her 10 years of experience training students for professional careers.
Questions
What age groups do your programs serve?
We offer classes for children as young as 3 through adults, with specialized programs for ages 8-18 and pre-professional training for ages 8-21.
Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, our LEAP program provides scholarships and reduced-cost classes for underprivileged students, with free community workshops available annually.
What dance styles are taught?
We teach ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, African, and musical theater styles, with options for all skill levels.
Are there performance opportunities?
Students participate in annual recitals, community events, and professional productions like 'The Nutcracker' and 'Alice in Wonderland.'
Do you accommodate special needs students?
Yes, our Blue Birds program offers adaptive dance classes for students with disabilities, focusing on creative expression in a supportive environment.
Reviews (5)
Megan Brooks
Apr 01, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
Not only is the UCPA family talented! They are a village that instills qualities of self worth, leadership and hard work into not just the students, but the instructors and the parents!
Not only is the UCPA family talented! They are a village that instills qualities of self worth, leadership and hard work into not just the students, but the instructors and the parents!
Karima
Mar 24, 2021
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My daughter is 10, she has been dancing with Mrs. May since she was 3. Umbiance has been a strong force in her life, building her confidence, sparking her interest in dance as well as community outreach and collaboration, life skills, friendship and inclusion. Umbiance offers a wide variety of opportunities and various dance classes for all ages. Umbiance focuses on building character and teamwork, not competition. And if you need help with rhythm and flexibility, they do that too. They offer in person classes, meeting CDC guidelines as well as virtual classes and I think they offer a free trial
Monique Jackson
Nov 19, 2019
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I had been looking for a dance school for quite some time now, and I came across this studio by chance on Facebook!!
Seeking an African dance class for my daughter
Jayla. I appreciate every ounce of love we receive. The goals that Mrs. Kay Harris and staff, set for all the students are realistic and honest. She wants the best for all her students and wouldn't have it any other way! She teaches and trains so all her students master their craft, and growth.
Seeking an African dance class for my daughter
Jayla. I appreciate every ounce of love we receive. The goals that Mrs. Kay Harris and staff, set for all the students are realistic and honest. She wants the best for all her students and wouldn't have it any other way! She teaches and trains so all her students master their craft, and growth.
Destin Johnson
Oct 05, 2018
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I was looking for an extra curricular activity for my daughter and fell in love with the entire Umbiance Dance Studio Family. Everyone is always friendly and helpful and it feels like one big dance community where everyone works together to make sure that each and every dancer is taken care of by any means necessary. These ladies know how to bring out the exceptional and poised dancer of anyone who enters this Studio! A precious gem I have found!
Alicia Hupprich
Sep 19, 2018
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My daughter has been attending Umbiance for the last 4 years. It is an amazing community. We love the director (who also teaches many classes.) Children are given the opportunity to find a passion for dance and they also learn so much more. It is an inclusive environment that encourages self respect and love and treating others with compassion. I recommend this studio to anyone inquiring about dance classes.
